FAQ

What is TimberTop?

TimberTop is one of Canada’s largest treetop aerial adventure parks and the number one ranked park of its kind in Canada on TripAdvisor. During any given TimberTop experience, you’ll find yourself climbing ladders, navigating suspended bridges, handing rock walls, flying between trees on zip lines, swinging, and more. Through it all, you’ll be secured with our top-of-the-line smart carabiner system which keeps guests locked into the course at all times, along with helmets and full-body harnesses.

What can I expect as part of my TimberTop experience during this 2020 season?

Many things have stayed the same in terms of our aim to give you an incredible experience and with additional protocols to keep you and our staff safe.

Upon arrival to the park 30 minutes in advance of your booking, you’ll be greeted by one of our staff in our outside harnessing area. An advanced booking is required this season which you can complete online 24 hours a day or by calling us during business hours at 506-657-6060 or toll-free at 1-833-657-6060. Online waivers must also be completed in advance this year. Please note that guests under 19 years of age must have their waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian ONLY. You’ll be asked make sure you’ve brought everything you need including your booking number, your ID (if you made the booking), your community mask (and a place to store it while you climb, which could be your pocket), and your gloves (we also offer gloves for sale by debit or credit card purchase). If you need to use the washroom facilities at the park this would be the best time to do it before check-in. We will be using an active screening process for COVID-19 symptoms. If you have a fever or any of the symptoms of COVID-19 before arrival we ask you to please stay home and call us to reschedule your visit. We unfortunately won’t be able to store any personal items in the registration area this year, including keys, so you should decide what to leave at home, in your car, or place in your pockets or in a fanny pack/small backpack. We will assign you to one or more of our benches to wait until the check-in area at the building is free.

You’ll then proceed to our new outside check-in area at our registration building, where you will be asked to confirm your booking with your ID. Our staff member will be behind plexiglass to serve you and will be regularly sanitizing all high touch surfaces between guests. Since all waivers are to be completed in advance this year, we will ask that you let us know the names of all guests in your booking, so we can confirm your completed waiver and attach it to your booking. Please note that you must weigh be between 45 and 270lbs. to participate at TimberTop Adventures. After completing all of the check-in procedures you will receive your activity bracelets for your adventure. If you need to purchase gloves, we ask that you tell us sizes using a sizing chart. We have gloves available for $4.50 each plus tax using your debit or credit card (sorry we are not accepting cash this season). We will include a link to the sizing guide in your reminder email so that you can easily figure out your glove sizes in advance. Before putting on your gloves we will ask you to use hand sanitizer. You will then proceed back to your assigned benches for harnessing.

Our trainers will assist you in getting your harnesses on as in past seasons but this year with a twist. Due to the fact that harnessing will require us to be within 2 meters we will ask you to wear your community masks as will our staff. When you wear your mask you protect us, and when we wear our masks we protect you. With your helmets, gloves and harnesses on you will then proceed to the training areas.

During the first stage of the 30 minute safety briefing you will learn how to use your safety equipment. Because of the nature of this training we may also ask you to wear your community mask. Following the first stage you will have the opportunity to test your knowledge on one of our training courses.

After that, you’re free to spend your experience as you like exploring our park and courses while social distancing. This year only one guest may be on a platform versus 3 in the past. The only exception will be for guests 11 and under who need their chaperone on the platform to assist them. As per usual there is a limit of one guest per obstacle at one time. Our courses are laid out in a “ski hill” style experience where you choose your runs versus a “golf course”, linear, one-way, style approach. This means you and your close friends and family group can spread out over up to 11 courses, depending on the package you selected. Our staff will always be nearby to answer questions and provide guidance to help you conquer any challenge.

When your time slot finishes and you return to the registration area you will be asked to leave your harnesses and helmets with our staff member in our outside return area, for safety checks and cleansing procedures. If you need assistance removing your gear, we ask that you wear your community mask while we assist you. If you purchased gloves from us you may either dispose of them or take them home to wash for your next visit.

We appreciate your patience as we navigate through new procedures that may take a little longer than normal. We hope you have an incredible time up in the trees, exploring nature, testing your skills, and taking in all that fresh air.

What are the age, height and weight requirements?

The two yellow courses we use for our Low & Go adventure were designed for kids with a minimumreaching height of 3’11” (120 cm) and adults that prefer challenges at lower heights.

Note: If you want to measure this at home simply get your child to stand with their feet flat on the ground next to a wall and have them reach up and touch as high as they can on the wall. If you measure from the floor up to that point and it’s 120cms or higher then they are good to go!

However, the course has been tailored to accommodate for anyone above that age range as well, due to the need for adults to climb with those aged 5 and 6. Children 7 and above may climb as part of the Low & Go package with adults supervising from below.

Additionally, if you’re an adult and simply wish to experience TimberTop, but a little closer to the ground, Low & Go is also for you! 🙂

For Go Wild, our green and blue courses are accessible to kids and adults age 8 and over with a minimum reaching height of 1.6 metres (5’3”).

Our black courses are our most challenging options and are available to teens and adults age 14 and over with a minimum reaching height of 1.9 metres (6’3”).

In order to tune our zip lines to work at fun and safe speeds and to comply with the manufacturers guidelines for our Flying Squirrel belay device (when in use), all climbers must weigh between 45 and 270lbs.

How do I book my TimberTop experience?

This season we require that all guest have a booking in advance of arrival. Most of our guests prefer to book their spot online. If you have any issues booking online or wish to book via phone, call us at 506-657-6060 or 1-833-657-6060 during office hours and we’d be happy to book your space for you over the phone. Please be prepared to pay the full amount for your experience at the time of booking.

Will season passes be available for the 2020 season?

Unfortunately, season passes will not be available for this shorter 2020 season.

What does Active Screening mean?

We will be asking all guests before they enter our facilities a series of questions to determine if they may have a fever or symptoms associated with COVID-19. As taken from the Government of New Brunswick COVID-19 site, common symptoms for COVID-19 include: Fever above 38 degrees Celsius, a new cough, or worsening chronic cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue, a new onset of muscle pain, diarrhea, loss of sense of taste, loss of sense of smell, and, in children, purple markings on the fingers and toes. If a guest has a fever or symptoms they will be asked to return home immediately and to call 811 for assessment and possible testing.

All of our staff will be actively screened twice a day, once when they arrive and once during their lunch break.

How physically fit do I have to be to explore TimberTop?

Our yellow (starter), green, blue, and black courses have varying degrees of difficulty, but as a starting point if you can climb a ladder you should be good to go. We recommend starting with the green courses and working your way up in difficulty.

Our black courses (the most difficult ones) requires arm, leg, and core strength. Participants must successfully complete the blue+ course to access the single black diamond course. The single black course must be successfully completed before conquering the double black diamond. And the double black diamond course must be successfully completed before accessing the triple black diamond course. For our most difficult black courses you will need to request access from one of any of our staff nearby.

And of course, if you are not feeling well or have any symptoms of COVID-19, that you please stay home and consider calling 811 for consultation.

What happens if it’s raining on the day I booked my experience?

We are open rain or shine, so you can still visit us for your adventure. In fact, since you’ll be active enough to work up a sweat on our courses, you may find you actually prefer it in the rain!

If you booked in advance and you’d prefer not to come when it’s raining, you can cancel or reschedule up to 2 hours before your booking, though we really appreciate as much notice as possible. If you reschedule, we will place you in a new time and date of your choice, or we can provide you with a voucher to use for a future date. Please see our cancellation policy for more information.

Can friends and family watch from the ground?

Absolutely, assuming they follow social distancing rules at all times and have a community mask when they cannot. We are located in beautiful Dominion Park, which is open daily to the public from dawn until dusk. The marked trails running next to our courses are open to everyone. Anyone entering our course areas enters at their own risk.

What else can I do at Dominion Park?

Dominion Park is one of Saint John’s truest gems and is the perfect place to spend some leisurely time outside. In addition to TimberTop Adventures, Dominion Park visitors can enjoy a sandy beach and warm water swimming (during the 2020 season there will be no life guards at the beach). Swing sets, which are sanitized twice a day by city staff, and barbecues are also onsite, and kayaks are also available for rent in advance from Go Fundy Events. In addition, Dominion Park is part of theStonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark, North America’s first geopark showing the geological history of our region.

There are less slots and days available this season – why is that?

This season will be a shorter season. We will be open during the summer for 11 weeks, and for only 5 days a week. This change is based on how we require our harnesses to be quarantined for a minimum of 48 hours after a single use, as per the recommendation from the manufacturer. This significantly reduces both the days we can be open but also the number of harnesses available during those open days. We highly recommend completing your bookings well in advance to ensure you are able to come on the day of your choosing and avoid disappointment.

Are there washrooms onsite?

Yes, the City of Saint John will be providing washroom trailers again this season with flush toilets, running water etc. They will be sanitizing the washrooms twice daily as per the requirements of the Department of Health. Our staff will also be keeping an eye on the washrooms throughout the day to provide spruce up cleaning and sanitizing. It is recommended that you thoroughly wash your hands before and after your adventure, even though you will be wearing your gloves at all times.

Hand sanitizing stations will be available in the harnessing and registration areas as well for your convenience.

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Is TimberTop part of the Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark?

Dominion Park, where we are located, is part of the Stonehammer UNESCO Global Geopark. Interpretive signs are located throughout our play area to tell you more about the unique landscape, history and formations!

Do I need to have a booking prior to arrival at the park?

Yes, unlike previous seasons, this year we require that all customers book in advance of arrival. Bookings can be completed online 24 hours per day or by phone during office hours at 506-657-6060 or toll-free at 1-833-657-6060.

Do I need to wear a mask?

We require all guests to bring their community masks with them and have them accessible at all times while at the park. Guests will be asked to put their community masks on for harnessing procedures and during training. If guests need to be assisted by one of our rescue guides, both guests and guides will be required to wear their community mask. In order to keep everyone safe, we wear a mask to protect you and you wear your mask to protect us.

Once on the courses, masks will not be required as long as social distancing measures are practiced at all times.

Guests should make sure to plan ahead on how they will carry their masks securely on their person during their adventures.

What should I wear for my TimberTop adventure?

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing that allows you to be active and that you don’t mind getting a little dirty. You must bring your community mask with you this season as there will be times when you will be asked to wear it during harnessing, training, and if you need assistance from one of our rescue guides on the courses. Please note that close toed shoes and gloves are mandatory at TimberTop. If you have a pair of tight fitting athletic or work gloves we recommend bringing them, but if you don’t we have some available for $4.50 plus tax. If you bring your own gloves we ask that you ensure they have been washed prior to coming to the park. If you have long hair, make sure it’s tied back.

What should I bring with me?

Please ensure that everyone in your group brings their community mask with them and has some way to store it on them at all times during your visit. For those without pockets you may want to look at bringing a fanny pack or small backpack.

You will need to make sure you bring gloves for everyone in your party. If you have a pair of clean tight fitting athletic or work gloves we recommend bringing them, but if you don’t, we sell them for $4.50 plus tax at the registration building. We will accept payment by debit or credit card this year only, and preferably using contact-less tap. In a reminder email sent before your arrival, you will receive a glove sizing link to help you determine what size glove to purchase at our registration building. Customers will not be permitted to change glove sizes once they have received them. If you bring your own gloves we ask that you ensure they have been washed prior to coming to the park.

Our Go Wild adventures are up to three hours long, and you’ll be active, so we recommend packing snacks and water. We also sell bottles of water for $2 (taxes included) and peanut-free bars ($1) both at the registration office.

Ensure that the person who made the booking in your party brings their government-issued picture ID or the credit card used for the booking. You will be required to show the ID through the plexiglass to confirm your booking.

You will also be required to submit your completed online waiver before you arrive. You will receive an email with a link to the waiver once your reservation is confirmed.

Lockers will not be available for rent this year and we will not be able to store keys or personal items behind the desk. Please plan what items you plan to leave at home, in your vehicle, in a backpack or fanny pack or in your pockets.

Will there be any staff or guides on the courses with me?

When you arrive, you will receive a comprehensive safety briefing of up to 30 minutes, where you’ll learn to use the equipment and have the opportunity to test it in one of our two training areas. After that, you’ll be free to explore our park and choose courses on your own in a self-guided fashion. Our staff will always be nearby to provide guidance if you need a few hints or words of encouragement to conquer a challenge.

We also have multiple rescue guides on site at all times should you get into a situation where you feel you need additional assistance or need to exit a course midway through for health and well-being reasons. Our rescue guides have received in-depth and specific training for this purpose and occasionally you may actually see them practicing their skills in trees nearby between assisting customers. During a rescue our guides will be wearing their community masks and we will be asking those we are rescuing to wear theirs as well. Your mask protects us and our mask protects you so that everyone is safe.

How does The Flying Squirrelsystem work?

The Flying Squirrel uses eddy current magnetic braking to give a true free fall feeling. Sounds super technical but basically it will give you an exciting free fall experience for 10 feet before the system gently lowers you to the ground. Fun fact: Eddy current brakes are also used to slow high-speed trains and roller coasters.

COVID-19 Update: The Flying Squirrel will unfortunately not be open during the 2020 season. The zip lines to and from the jump platform will still be available for thrilling zips and access to that incredible view of the St. John River!

When do I need to arrive?

We ask that you arrive at least 30 minutes before the start of your session. This will give you time to park your car, find our building, and take a last-minute washroom break before starting your adventure. There are a number of new safety procedures added during the check-in and harnessing period so we want to ensure no one feels rushed. This year waiver forms must be completed in advance. Note that any participating minors under 19 years of age must have their waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian ONLY (sorry but we cannot make any exceptions to this requirement.)

Is it safe?

Safety is our number one priority (ensuring you have a good time is a very close second!). We use a top-of-the-line Bornack SSB (Smart Safe Belay) carabiner system, which ensures the user can’t accidentally unclip themselves from the safety line while in a course. Climbers are always secured with at least one carabiner until their feet are back on the ground. We also use the latest helmets and full-body harnesses to further ensure your experience is the safest it can be.

In Canada, usually treetop adventure parks opt in to specific safety regulations set by ACCT in the US as a minimum. We do more than simply meet these regulations – in fact, we’ve chosen to build our park to go beyond North American standards. We’ve opted to build and be inspected to the more stringent European safety standards. These standard have been around for nearly 30 years and were created in a place where parks like ours are much more common.

In addition to our yearly and monthly inspections, our staff also physically inspect all of the courses daily before guests arrive and we also perform a multipoint inspection of the safety gear used by our guests after each use so the harnesses, helmets and smart safety belays ready to go when the next guest arrives.

Why are helmets and gloves mandatory?

Based on best practices for customer safety and comfort in our industry, we require the use of specially designed helmets, which we include as part of all of our adventure packages, and gloves that either customers can bring with them or purchase from us for $4.50 plus tax when they arrive.

Gloves brought from home can be tight fitting work or athletic gloves. For our 2020 season finger tips cannot be removed from gloves. Fingerless gloves are not permitted this year.

Do you have enhanced cleaning procedures?

Yes, all of our high use and high touch areas within our check-in registration building will be regularly sanitized and/or sanitized between guests. Hand sanitizer will be available throughout our harnessing and registration areas as well as outside of the washroom facilities. Public washroom facilities will be sanitized by the City of Saint John twice daily with spot checks by TimberTop Adventures staff throughout the day.

In addition to our regular multipoint safety checks, customer harness setups and helmets will be cleaned AND quarantined for a minimum of 48 hours as per the manufacturers guidelines.

Customers and staff will be required to hand sanitize prior to putting on their clean/new gloves and will be required to keep them on throughout their entire adventure. Gloves will not only keep hands protected but will eliminate direct contact with the open-air elements of the courses. This practice, along with the use of active screening of staff and guests and being in an outdoors environment, will create our in-the-trees environment.

What if I’m afraid of heights?

Sometimes the best way to overcome your fears is to face them head-on. At TimberTop, you’ll be locked into each course using our state-of-the-art smart carabiner system, so there’s no better – or safer – place to conquer your fear of heights. In addition, our staff are trained to encourage you and provide advice if you feel stuck anywhere on our courses. Give it a try! You may be totally impressed by what you can accomplish. You can always start out on the yellow courses used for ‘Low & Go’, which are suitable for all ages 5+ and are also a little closer to the ground.

What additional measures are you staff taking this season?

Like all other businesses permitted to open, TimberTop Adventures has put together a comprehensive COVID-19 Operations Plan for this season. While customers may see a number of enhanced measures the fact is there are many more safety measures that have been added behind the scenes. A sample of some of these measures that our staff now take are:

All staff are actively screened for COVID-19 symptoms twice a day including having their temperatures taken with a forehead thermometer.

All staff have specially-made, buff-style community masks to wear, allowing them to quickly engage their masks as needed throughout the day

All staff will be practicing social distancing with customers and amongst themselves. If you see staff working together within 2m it is because they are close friends outside of work or are family members.

Staff will be assigned their own dedicated harnesses, helmets, gloves, radios, jackets, lockers etc. at the beginning of the season and will not switch them. Any use of equipment that has multiple users will be sanitized between uses and staff will be using hand sanitizer on a frequent basis in addition to hand washing.

Our staff have been trained to do a number of their tasks in new ways this year to accommodate enhanced safety measures.

When are you open?

COVID-19 Update: Please note the advanced bookings are now required. Hours and dates below are subject to change.

June 20 – September 6, 2020

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 11am – 5pm*

Saturday and Sunday: 11am – 6pm

* – We will be closed on Wednesday, July 1st, to celebrate Canada Day.

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Timbertop Adventures

Our treetop adventure park is the magical, secret playground you dreamed about as a kid come to life. Swing through the trees while taking in the beauty of the magnificent St. John River.